Chinatown residents air opposition to Chicago Fire FC stadium, The 78 development at town hall
Residents of Chicago's Chinatown community voiced concerns Wednesday evening about a new Chicago Fire soccer stadium in The 78 development planned nearby.
Organizers said they are concerned Chinatown residents may be sidelined in the planning for the mega-development, which is estimated to cost $7 billion, and said there need to be clear protections put in place to ensure the neighborhood isn't left behind as the project moves forward.
Critics of the plan want to develop the culture and character of Chinatown and not price people out of the neighborhood.
"One of the primary concerns is that property values will shoot up very fast and sudden, before you can make more money to afford your new rent and your new property tax," one woman said at a townhall meeting on the at the Pui Tak Center, 2216 S. Wentworth Ave.
There also concern that the proposed The 78 development, which is planned for 82 acres along the south branch of the Chicago River, could negatively impact Ping Tom Memorial Park, small businesses and longtime residents who could be pushed or priced out of the area.
Ping Tom Memorial Park is a particular sticking point for the community, organizers said, as it isn't just a park but "a cultural anchor for generations of Chinatown families."
Most crucially, organizers say there have been no discussions between Related Midwest, which is spearheading The 78, and Chinatown community members about neighborhood concerns, the risk of displacement or community protection.
The meeting was hosted by the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community and the Teen Coalition for Chinatown.